If this were 20 years ago...

[lower14]

The what-ifs in the Bama-MSU thread got me thinking---think back to the days before the BCS - when bowl games had solid conference tie-ins, and it didn't matter where you were ranked to what bowl you played in. Now, my memory may not be what it once was for conference ties, but imagine a post-season with a New Year's Day slate of games as the following:

Sugar Bowl: (2) Alabama vs. (5) TCU
Orange Bowl: (1) Florida State vs. (4) Mississippi State
Fiesta Bowl: (7) Baylor vs. (10) Ole Miss
Rose Bowl: (3) Oregon vs. (6) Ohio State
Cotton Bowl: (12) Kansas State vs. (9) UCLA
Citrus Bowl: (8) Michigan State vs. (12) Georgia

Three(!) games with national title implications with five possible teams in the hunt for a national title, four of whom would be playing at the same time (Sugar and Orange).

THAT is what I hated about the BCS and what I hate about the new system. I liked the ambiguity of the old system, but, more importantly, the BCS ruined the greatest day in sports - New Year's Day. Awesome college football from the 11:30 kickoff for the Citrus Bowl to the midnight finish of the Fiesta Bowl. A full 12 hours of awesomeness. Gone forever. Sigh.

[mshunter77]

I do miss the ole New Year's Day slate of games.